Machine for making concrete conduit and vibrating same during forming



Nov. 26, 1968 .1. c. MCGREW 3,412,440

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE CONDUIT AND VIBRATING SAME DURING FORMINGFiled Oct 23. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l 4/0? en: 6 M: 6/: rv

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MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE CONDUIT AND VIBRATING SAME DURING FORMING IFiled Oct. 25. 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (fame; (T M: Grew INVENTOR.

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NOV. 26, 1968 J. CpMc Ew 3,412,440

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE CONDUIT AND VIBRATING SAME DURING FORMING vFiled Oct. 25, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 @meJ C'. fi/r'rew INVENTOR.

BYav M ATTORNE VJ United States Patent O 3,412,440 MACHINE FOR MAKINGCONCRETE CONDUIT AND VIBRATING SAME DURING FORMING James C. McGrew,Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, of forty-four percent toDouglas N. Norton; twelve and one-half percent to Marion C. McKinley;seven and one-half percent to H. W. Lehman; two and one-half percent toRuth G. Garnett; one and one-half percent to John W. Brandenberger; fivepercent to Ida Perkins; one percent each to Vernon G. Stamm and Henry J.Denton; one-half percent each to Caroline Jean Edgar, executrix of theestate of James B. Simms, deceased, and Ralph R. Browning; twenty-twopercent to William F. Newton; and one percent each to W. R. Sellers andGlynn S. McClellan Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,687 11 Claims. (CI.2536) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A concrete conduit forming machinehaving a frame and a rotatable forming carrier. A vibrator is movablymounted on the frame adjacent the form filling position. Means areprovided to move the vibrator into engagement with the carrier fortransmitting vibration thereto and for holding the vibrator out ofcontact with the carrier for movement of the carrier.

This invention relates to a machine for manufacturing concrete conduitof the general type of which an example is shown and described in the I.C. McGrew US. Patent No. 3,106,005, issued Oct. 8, 1963.

In machines of this type it is highly desirable that the concrete in thefinished conduit be as dense and free of air bubbles and the like aspossible throughout the length of the conduit. With the usual machinesof this type, however, if the concrete is merely dumped into the upperend of the form while the packer heads are located in their lowermostposition projecting through the bottom end of the form, and the packerheads then rotated and moved slowly up through the form so that by theirrotation they will form the ducts within the finished conduit and alsoserve to compact the concrete around the respective ducts, it notinfrequently occurs that the concrete adjacent the lower end of the formin the finished conduit is not as dense as the concrete in the remainderof the conduit and may have bubbles or the like left therein. It isknown that to subject a form to vibration after filling it with concretein the formation of other types of objects will result in compaction ofthe concrete adjacent the lower part of the form. However, it has beenfound undesirable to do this by means of a hammerin type of vibrator inengagement with the side wall of the form for a number of reasons,particularly for the reason that the forms employed are usually metaland of relatively thin gauge so that such a vibrator might result indamage to the form and require replacement. Furthermore, such a vibratornecessarily must operate against the side wall of the form and blowsstruck in such a lateral direction are not as effective in causingsettlement and compaction of the concrete in the form as blows struckvertically for the purpose of causing vibration. Furthermore, it isundesirable to have to provide more than one such vibratory device incases in which the machine is provided with a form support having twodifferent form supporting portions, one of which is always in positionfor the form loading operation while the other is in position forremoval of the form.

It is also undesirable for such a vibratory device to be mounted on amovable form support or carrier of the type mentioned because suchdevices are usually fairly heavy and add a great deal to the burden ofthe form carrier. It

is further objectionable for the blow causing vibration to be deliveredin a downward direction to the carrier as distinguished from an upwarddirection because this likewise tends to place a greater burden on thetable and is not as effective in compacting the material in the form.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a means whereby aform in place for filling on such a machine may be effectively vibratedduring the time it is being filled with concrete but without having anyof the undesirable characteristics above mentioned.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a machine in whichprovision is made for vibrating the form by striking a vertically upwardblow against the form carrier at a position closely adjacent thelocation of a form thereon while it is being filled with concrete.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character mentioned withmeans for vibrating the form without in anywise placing an extra loadupon the form carrier nor interfering in any way with its movementbetween a position for filling the form and a position for the removalthereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example oneembodiment of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in longitudinalcross section illustrating pertinent portions of a machine of the typeshown in the abovementioned patent with the vibrator constructed andpositioned thereon in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the turntable or disc providing a formcarrier in the machine illustrated in FIG. 1 and showing the position ofthe vibrator with respect thereto, this figure being taken substantiallyalong the line 22 of FIG. 1 but without showing some of the partsillustrated in FIG. 1 in order that the form carrier and vibrator may bemore clearly illustrated.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of a vibrator constructed inaccordance with this invention showing its position relative to theadjacent portions of the machine including the adjacent edge of the formcarrier, and illustrating the vibrator in position for deliveringvibratory blows to the form carrier.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross section showing the vibrator inthe same position as illustrated in FIG. 3 but showing all of the partsof the vibrator in side elevation.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section of a fragmentary nature taken alongthe line 55 of FIG. 4 and showing the vibrator parts in an elevationsubstantially at right angles to that shown in FIG. 4.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, the machine illustrated includesa frame 10 between the side members of which is rotatably mounted aturntable 12 providing a form support for rotation about a verticalaxis. A top plan view of this form support or carrier is shown in FIG.2. The frame has a horizontal cross member 16 below the form carrier 12and on this cross member 16 are mounted suitable support rollers 18 sooriented that their axes extend radially toward the center of rotationof the turntable form carrier 12 facilitating both its support and itsrotation about its vertical axis.

On top of the turntable 12 are lugs 20 providing form positioningmembers spaced about the opening 21 on opposite sides of the center ofthe form carrier. These form positioning lugs 20 are thus arranged toposition a form 22 above and in register with each of the openings 21 asshown in FIG. 1.

Each form is provided with a bottom pallet 24 having openings 26therethrough positioned to correspond with the position and size of theducts which the completed conduit is to have therein, such pallet beingpositioned approximately at the lower end of the form 22 by means ofinwardly extending lugs 28 at about the lower end of the form.

In this general type of machine the concrete conduit 30 is formed insideof the form 22 and is made from concrete, usually made with a nearminimum amount of water, which is placed in the form from above thetable 32, preferably mounted so that it may be raised and loweredwhereby in its upper position it will be free from the form permittingthe form to be placed thereunder before being filled and removedtherefrom after being filled merely by a rotation of the turntable 12.Guides 34 may be provided for guiding the table 32 in its upward anddownward movement and the upward and downward movement may be providedby any suitable source of power such that employed, for example, toraise and lower the table 25 in Patent 3,106,005 above mentioned.

The filling table, or mud table as it is usually termed, has a centralopening 35 therein located above the position of the form 22 on the formcarrier 12 which may be referred to as the form filling position of theform positioning members 20. This opening 35 is calculated tosubstantially register with the opening in the upper end of the form 22and carries a support 36 capable of being raised and lowered relative tothe table 32 from which is suspended within the 'upper end of the fonman upper pallet 38 similar to the lower pallet 24 except that it is 3readily movable into and out of the form as indicated. The means formoving this device into and out of the form includes a power cylinder 40and suitable connecting means such as the lever 42, link 44, lever 46,links 48,

bell cranks pivoted on supports 52 on the table 32, i

and links 54 interconnecting one arm of each bell crank with the plate36 so that it may be raised and lowered relative to the table 32. Thislinkage may be mounted upon a suitable framework 56 which is in turnmounted on the table 32.

Thus when the table 32 is in position on top of the form 22, the pallet38 may be lifted above the level of the table 32 so as to leave theentire upper end of the form open and facilitate the entry of concreteinto the form, after which the pallet may be lowered to close the upperend of the form except for the openings in the pallet corresponding tothe positions of the ducts through the completed form.

As a means of forming the ducts through the conduit within the form 22,suitable gears and power apparatus indicated by the numeral 57 areprovided with raising and lowering means as explained more in detail inthe abovementioned Patent 3,106,005, and depending from this power andgear box 57 are a plurality of shafts 58 corresponding in number withthe number of ducts to be formed in the completed conduit. Each of theseshafts carries on its lower end a packer head 60 of the size of the ductto be formed thereby in the completed conduit and the entire assembly,which is adapted to rotate all of the packer heads 60 in one rotarydirection, is movable from an upper position somewhat above thatillustrated in FIG. 1 to a lower position in which the packer headsproject into the openings 26 in the lower pallet.

The general type of machine as thus far shown and described has beenheretofore known but is illustrated and described as a type of machineto which the invention of this application is directed and on which itis highly advantageous in use.

It is also quite conventional in this general type of machine to providesuitable latching means comprising a guide 62 mounted on one of theframe members and having a plunger 64 extending downwardly therefromadapted for upward and downward movement through suitable means such asa lever 66 located adjacent the station of the operator and operable byhim to be raised and lowered. As lowered, the plunger 64 is adapted toengage one of a plurality of keepers 68 through an opening 70 thereinand by such engagement to lock the turntable or form carrier 12 in onerotary position with the form: positioning means thereon directlybeneath the opening 35 in the mud table 32. Thus a form positionedbeneath such opening by such form positioning means will be in positionto receive concrete through the opening 35 and this may be known as theform filling position of the turntable 12. It will be understood,however, that where such a turntable or carrier 12 has two openings 21with form positioning means 20 thereabout, it will have two form fillingpositions, one for each opening, and it is for this reason that the formlatching means 64 is adapted to engage alternatively either of twokeepers 68 so that engagement with one of these will hold the formcarrier in one form filling position while engagement with the otherwill hold it in the other form filling position and in each case thecarrier with respect to one of the form positioning means will be inposition for removing the form.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided whereby,when either of the sets of form positioning means 20 is in form fillingposition, vibration may be imparted thereto directly and at a positionclosely adjacent to that portion of the form carrier or turntable whichis immediately adjacent the form positioning means 20 that are in formfilling position.

The means just mentioned include a main vibrator assembly comprising abase plate 72 which is movably mounted on the frame of the machine as bya shaft 74 hingedly or pivotally carried in upstanding lugs or brackets76, a downwardly extending vibrator bracket 78 fixedly secured to thebase plate 72 and extending downwardly therefrom and carrying on itslower end a vibratory device 80. The vibratory device 80 may be of anywellknown or available vibrator construction such as a rotatableeccentric weight or the like and may be driven electrically throughelectrical leads 81 or by any other convenient source of power. It willbe understood that the invention is in no wise limited to the type ofpower utilized to actuate the vibrator nor to the type of vibratormechanism em loyed so long as the vibrator mechanism has a sufficientcapacity to deliver the vibratory blows which are adequately powerful tovibrate the form and contents when the base plate 72 is in contact withthe lower surface of the form carrier or turntable as illustrated in thedrawings.

For the purpose of holding the base plate 72 and the entire vibratorassembly thereon in vibration transmitting contact with the lowersurface of the form carrier as illustrated, suitable means such assprings 82 are provided, these springs as illustrated being two innumber although any desired number may be employed, and the springsbeing positioned to bear at one end against the under side of the baseplate and at the other end upon adjustable supports 84 in the form ofspring bolts adjustably mounted in spring plates or brackets 85 carriedon the frame members or shaft support beams on which the hinge shaft 74and its brackets 76 are mounted. Preferably these springs 82 are in theform of compression springs with their axes substantially vertical andpositioned directly beneath those portions of the base plate 72 whichare to bear against the under side of the turntable 12, so that theydirectly and continuously bias the base plate toward and into contactwith the turntable. It will be seen that when in contact as described,operation of the vibrator device 80 will transmit vibrations, primarilyin a vertically upward direction, directly to the under surface of theturntable 12 and hence vibrate the form resting on the turntable in formfilling position at the adjacent location to a vertical vibration.

In order that the vibrator assembly which thus is mounted to directlytransmit vibrations to the turntable and to the forms resting thereonmight not interfere with the movement of the form carrier or turntable12 to a position such that the form when filled may be readily remove-d,means are provided for overcoming the springs 82 and moving the baseplate 72 out of engagement with the turntable during such movement ofthe turntable.

The means thus provided may be made up in any form capable of opposingthe springs 82 with sufficient force to overcome them and hold the plate72 out of contact with the turntable while it is turning, but preferablywould be motinted on the frame so as to leave the turntable without anyunbalancing weights or forces applied to it during turning, and shouldbe double acting so that operation in one direction will move the plate72 out of contact with the turntable and in the other direction willmove free of the base plate 72 so as to in nowise interfere with thevibratory action. Such a device is illustrated in the drawing ofcylinder 86 for actuation by hydraulic power or any other suitable meansunder which its stem or plunger 88 will" move downwardly into engagementwith the upper surface of the base plate and move it about its hinge 74downwardly and out of contact with the turntable, and upon movementupwardly will allow the base plate to engage the turntable and then movefree of the turntable as illustrated in FIG. 4. Preferably such acylinder would be welded or otherwise fixedly secured to a part 90 onthe frame.

While the springs 82 and the hydraulic cylinder 86 wrve adequately andsatisfactorily to move the vibrator into and out of contact with theturntable and to hold it in Contact with the turntable during vibration,it will readily be understood that numerous other devices may beemployed within the skill of a skilled mechanic for performing thesefunctions once the means disclosed in this application are known to him.

While the sequence of operations in using the machine described is to asubstantial degree within the judgment of the operator, this inventionis preferably so arranged as to apply vibrations to the turntable andform during that portion of the forming cycle in which the form is beingfilled with concrete. More specifically, when a form is put in positionand moved to form filling location beneath the opening 35 in the table32, the table 32 will be lowered onto the upper end of the form with thepallet 3-8. and its carrier 36 elevated so as to leave the upper end ofthe form open. Thereupon the gear box 57 will be lowered until thepacker heads 60 are disposed within the openings 26 in the lower pallet24. If the ma-. chine embodies dowel pin hole formers such asillustrated and described in prior Patent No. 3,106,005, these would bemoved upwardly until they projected into the lower end of the form atthis point, Thereupon the feeding of concrete into the form would becommenced and the rotation of the packer heads begun while'theirelevation would be momentarily delayed.

As soon as a substantial quantity of concrete has been fed into the formthe vibratory mechanism above described would be actuated to startvibrating the form and would be continued substantially during theremainder of the time that concrete is being placed in the form, atwhich time it would be shut off.

It will be understood that the actuation of the vibratory mechanism tomove the vibrator into contact with the turntable and to start thevibrator element operating may be controlled manually by the operator orby any automatic connection with any significant functioning of themachine such as, for example, by the mechanism employed for moving thelower dowel pin hole formers upwardly into position in the form.Furthermore, operation of the vibrator mechanism may be timed to occurat any moment either simultaneously with or subsequent to the actionwhich triggers its operation by employing any suitable time delaymechanism for this purpose. It may also be caused to move out of contactwith the turntable either by manual triggering of the actuation of thecylinder 86 or by appropriate connection to any part of the machine tobe triggered by significant'movement thereof, such as by downwardmovement of the lower dowel pin hole formers which must occur before theturntable can be rotated away from form filling position after the formhas been filled.

It will be understood that as soon as the concrete has been fed into theform or as soon as a substantial portion thereof has been so fed, therotating packer heads will be caused to move upwardly through the formand out the upper end thereof. Before they emerge from the upper end theupper pallet 38 will be lowered into position to close the upper end ofthe forms and then after the packer heads 60 move upwardly beyond theupper end of the form the entire table 32 will be raised so as to freethe upper end of the form and enable it to be moved laterally by theform carrier to form removal position.

When operated on the schedule above described the vibration serves toconsolidate the concrete as it is being fed into the form and to allowair and fluff to escape therefrom making the concrete conduit whichresults more dense, more particularly at its lower end and enabling theentire form filling cycle to be carried on at a faster rate.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth,together with other advantages" which are obvious and which are inherentto the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described what is claimed is:

1. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrierhaving form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative tosaid frame between one position with said form locating means in formfilling position and another with said form locating means in positionfor removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement whichcomprises a vibrator pivotally mounted on said frame adjacent the formfilling position of said form locating means for movement into and outof engagement withthe form carrier, and means for moving said vibratorinto engagement with said carrier for transmitting vibration theretowhen said carrier is in said one position and means for holding saidvibrator out of contact with said carrier to permit movement of saidcarrier between said one and said other position without interferencefrom said vibrator.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 in which 'said vibrator and meansfor moving the same are mounted entirely on said frame.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the carrier is ahorizontally movable platform and said vibrator engages an undersurfaceof said carrier to impart vibratory blows thereto in an upwarddirection.

4. In a machine for making concrete conduit comprising a frame, a formsupporting turntable rotatably mounted on said frame on an axis adaptedto be vertically disposed in use and having form receiving andpositioning means on its upper surface, cooperating means on said frameand turntable for holding said turntable with said form receiving andpositioning means in one position and releasable to permit its rotationto a second position with said form receiving and positioning means inposition for removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvementwhich comprises a vibrator pivotally mounted on said frame for movementinto and out of contact with said turntable when said turntable is insaid first position whereby when said vibrator is operated while incontact with said turntable it will transmit vibration thereto tovibrate a form thereon while it is being filled with concrete, and meansfor moving said vibrator into contact with said turntable and means formoving said vibrato-r out of contact therewith, whereby when saidvibrator is out of contact with sad turntable, said turntable may bemoved freely without interference from said vibrator between said firstand said second positions.

5. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrierhaving form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative tosaid frame between one position with said form locating means in formfilling position and another with said form locating means in positionfor removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement whichcomprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the formfilling position of said form locating means for movement into and outof engagement with the form carrier, and yieldable means for constantlyyieldably urging said vibrator toward engagement with said carrier fortransmitting vibration thereto when said carrier is in said one positionand means opposed to said yieldable means for overcoming the same andmoving said vibrator out of contact with said carrier to permit movementof said carrier between said one and said other position withoutinterference from said vibrator.

6. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrierhaving form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative tosaid frame between one position with said form locating means in formfilling position and another with said form locating means in positionfor removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement whichcomprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the formfilling position of said form locating means for movement into and outof engagement with the form carrier, and yieldable means for urging saidvibrator toward engagement with said carrier for transmitting vibrationthereto during some of the time when said carrier is in said oneposition and means opposed to said last-mentioned means for moving saidvibrator out of contact with said carrier to permit movement of saidcarrier between said one and said other position without interferencefrom said vibrator when it is desired for said carrier to be moved fromsaid one position to said second position.

7. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrierhaving form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative tosaid frame between one position with said form locating means in formfilling position and another with said form locating means in positionfor removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement whichcomprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the formfilling position of said form locating means for movement intoand out ofengagement with the form carrier, and yieldable means for constantlyyieldably urging said vibrator toward engagement with said carrier fortransmitting vibration thereto when said carrier is in said one positionand power means opposed to said yieldable means for overcoming the sameand moving said vibratorout of contact with said carrier when power isapplied to the power means to permit movement of said carrier betweensaid one and said other position without interference from saidvibrator.

8. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrierhaving form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative tosaid frame between one position with said form locating means in formfilling position and another with said form locating means in positionfor removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement whichcomprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the formfilling position of said form locating means for movement into and outof engagement with the form carrier, and a spring yieldably urging saidvibrator toward engagement with said carrier for transmitting vibrationthereto when said carrier is in said one position and a hydraulic motoropposed to said spring for overcoming the same and moving said vibratorout of contact with said carrier when power is applied to the hydraulicmotor to permit movement of said carrier between said one and said otherposition without interference from said vibrator.

9. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrierhaving form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative tosaid frame between one position with said form locating means in formfilling position and another with said form locating means in positionfor removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement whichcomprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the formfilling position of said form locating means for movement into and outof engagement with the form carrier, and yieldable means for constantlyurging said vibrator toward engagement with said carrier fortransmitting vibration thereto when said carrier is in said one positionand double acting power means separably mounted on said frame andmovable into contact with said vibrator in a direction opposed to saidyieldable means for overcoming the same and moving said vibrator out ofcontact with said carrier when power is applied to the power means inone direction to permit movement of said carrier between said one andsaid other position without interference from said vibrator and movableout of contact with said vibrator when power is applied to the powermeans in the other direction.

10. A machine for making concrete conduit having a fram a form carrierhaving form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative tosaid frame between one position with said form locating means in formfilling position and another with said form locating means in positionfor removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement whichcomprises a vibrator movably mounted on said frame adjacent the formfilling position of said form locating means for movement into and outof engagement with the form carrier, and yieldable means for constantlyyieldably urging said vibrator toward engagement with said carrier fortransmitting vibration thereto when said carrier is in said one positionand double acting means separably mounted on said frame and movable intocontact with said vibrator in a direction opposed to said yieldablemeans for overcoming the same and moving said vibrator out of contactwith said carrier to permit movement of said carrier between said oneand said other position without interference from said vibrator whensaid double acting means is moved in one direction and movable out ofcontact with said vibrator when said double acting means is moved in theother direction.

11. A machine for making concrete conduit having a frame, a form carrierhaving form receiving and locating means thereon and movable relative tosaid frame between one position with said form locating means in formfilling position and another with said form locating means in positionfor removal and replacement of a form thereon, the improvement whichcomprises a vibrator hingedly mounted on said frame on an axis spacedfrom said carrier adjacent the form filling position of said form 10-cating means for movement into and out of engagement with the formcarrier, and yieldable means constantly urging said vibrator pivotallyabout said axis toward engagement with said carrier for transmittingvibration thereto when said carrier is in said one position and doubleacting power means separably mounted in said frame and movable intocontact with said vibrator in a direction opposed to said yieldablemeans for overcoming the same and moving said vibrator pivotally aboutsaid axis until it is out of contact with said carrier to permitmovement of said carrier between said one and said other positionwithout interference from said vibrator when power is applied to saidpower means in one direction and movable out of contact with saidvibrator when power is applied to the power means in the otherdirection.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, PrimaryExaminer.

R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiner.

